Rehab centers struggle to keep drugs out
Ehrhart says she witnessed a drug deal at the rehab center and told a staff member, who failed to report it. In an e-mail to Ehrhart's mother, Betty Ford's former CEO John Schwarzlose, who left the post in July, promised an investigation, offered the …
Read more on USA TODAY

Four beds ready to treat Internet addicts
Some, they say, will need to be medicated to make it through the detox. "We're really behind other countries in treating this problem," says Young. "China, Korea and Taiwan all have treatment centers. Here in the United States, people who need …
Read more on CNN

Actor Says Stay At Detox Center Helped With Painkiller Addiction
When Actor Michael Sorrentino had an issue with prescription drugs he sought help at a detox center. Fortunately, there are certified drug treatment centers such as South Florida's Harbor Village where abusers can seek the professional assistance they …
Read more on PR Web (press release)

Students open up, share problems with govt school counsellors
From family to property to drug addiction to learning disability — these are the major issues that have cropped up during the counselling sessions started at the city-based government schools for the students of primary classes to Class XII. The …
Read more on Indian Express

A City's Shame: Reliving Childhood Sexual Abuse
A City's Shame: Reliving Childhood Sexual Abuse. By Brennan Leffler … There was rampant alcoholism and physical abuse. “Back then you were, you … The results of Estabrooks' abuse are devastating. Many of the … They've struggled with alcohol and …
Read more on Globalnews.ca

Ice a growing danger: counsellor
He said there had been a 25 per cent increase in ice users needing counselling during the past two years, with their youngest client only 16. The influx of the drug had been so fast that health services did not have enough of an understanding of how to …
Read more on The Border Mail

Recidivist drink-driving addiction counsellor jailed
She said that before this "relapse", Steven had obtained a counselling diploma and had come to Christchurch to set up his business to help people with addictions to prescription drugs. "That's his specialty. That's what he wants to do." Steven had gone …
Read more on Marlborough Express

Former addict sets up prescription drugs support group in Bradford
A support group for those addicted to prescribed and over-the-counter medication has been set up in Bradford by one man who managed to wean himself off the drugs. Tens of thousands of prescriptions are estimated to be issued each year locally for the …
Read more on Bradford Telegraph and Argus

Support Groups
Lake Erie PRIDE is a local team affiliated with PRIDE Youth Programs, which is the nation's oldest and largest peer-to-peer organization devoted to drug abuse and violence prevention through education. The local team is comprised of over 50 high school …
Read more on GoErie.com

Standing up for overdose awareness
Carol founded the local chapter of Grieving Recovery After a Substance Passing, a national support group. After her son died, she attended several support groups for grieving parents. But her son's story – a life plagued and ultimately ended by drug …
Read more on Citizens Voice

Question by Danyel: What type of education would I need to become an RN at a substance abuse detox facility?
I am currently going to school for pre-health with a nursing concentration, until I have the requirements to apply for nursing. I would like to be able to work as an RN in a substance abuse facility. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advise as to how to go about doing this? I do not know if I will need to specialize in a certain area in order to do so or not? If anyone could help me out in regards to what to do education wise I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by MeMeMe
Hi,

First off, good for you for wanting to work in addiction treatment! I’m an addictions counselor and have been working in mental health (mostly suicide prevention) for 7 years and we certainly need more qualified RNs in the field. So I think you will have an easy time finding work once you’re finished with school.

As for your question… To become an RN, you need to go to nursing school. Although I’m sure you already know this. As for specializing in addiction treatment, I don’t believe there are any additional requirements, but it would be good if you have experience working with addicts or at least a greater knowledge of treating clients with addiction. So I would suggest trying to get an internship of some sort with a treatment center in your area. They may not let you do much while you’re in school, but you will be able to put it on your resume. You can learn a lot from observing how things work in treatment. The other suggestion I have would be to take some extra classes that focus on substance abuse. Drug addicts and alcoholics face a variety of special issues separate from the “normal” population you would be working with in a hospital. Most community colleges and some universities now offer programs where you can learn more about these issues. I don’t know where you live, but you may want to start looking for college programs titled “Addictions Counseling” or “Addictions Studies.” Classes you may want to take would be any type of pharmacology, a bloodborne pathogens/infectious disease class, and even alternative treatments to addiction classes. It could also help to take a few classes for addictions counselors like group therapy, individual therapy, or something similar. These will definitely help you in the future in terms of communicating with your clients.

The most important thing I would think an RN working in addiction should have to be educated about is prescription drugs of abuse. Normally when I do an intake on a client coming into treatment, they have been medically prescribed multiple addictive drugs that only contribute to and exacerbate their disease (addiction). Usually these include opiate painkillers, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives and tranquilizers. I had a client once who was on NINE different benzos which she had been on for years, all prescribed by doctors for things like insomnia, anxiety, and even hypothyroidism. This is so egregious and disgusting to me! They were killing her. She obviously had to be medically detoxed for risk of seizures and death from her meds. And needless to say, after being evaluated by our MD, she didn’t NEED any of the pills.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Just excited to see someone wanting to help in the field of addiction treatment. It is rare these days, it seems. But what a satisfying and rewarding job. Good luck to you!!!

Add your own answer in the comments!

Former addict sets up prescription drugs support group in Bradford
A support group for those addicted to prescribed and over-the-counter medication has been set up in Bradford by one man who managed to wean himself off the drugs. Tens of thousands of prescriptions are estimated to be issued each year locally for the …
Read more on Bradford Telegraph and Argus

Methadone 'should continue to be central drug addict treatment'
Methadone should continue to be a central treatment for recovering heroin addicts, a Scottish Government-commissioned panel has found. The group had been gathering evidence on the effectiveness of opioid replacement therapies in treating people with …
Read more on STV Local

Group stages second march against drugs in village
WELLSVILLE – Although the crowd that marched down Main Street on Thursday evening was smaller than that from their first outing in June, members of the anti-drug group Enough Is Enough say they will maintain their stand against the abuse and sale of …
Read more on The Review

Question by Danyel: What type of education would I need to become an RN at a substance abuse detox facility?
I am currently going to school for pre-health with a nursing concentration, until I have the requirements to apply for nursing. I would like to be able to work as an RN in a substance abuse facility. I was wondering if anyone could give me any advise as to how to go about doing this? I do not know if I will need to specialize in a certain area in order to do so or not? If anyone could help me out in regards to what to do education wise I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Best answer:

Answer by MeMeMe
Hi,

First off, good for you for wanting to work in addiction treatment! I’m an addictions counselor and have been working in mental health (mostly suicide prevention) for 7 years and we certainly need more qualified RNs in the field. So I think you will have an easy time finding work once you’re finished with school.

As for your question… To become an RN, you need to go to nursing school. Although I’m sure you already know this. As for specializing in addiction treatment, I don’t believe there are any additional requirements, but it would be good if you have experience working with addicts or at least a greater knowledge of treating clients with addiction. So I would suggest trying to get an internship of some sort with a treatment center in your area. They may not let you do much while you’re in school, but you will be able to put it on your resume. You can learn a lot from observing how things work in treatment. The other suggestion I have would be to take some extra classes that focus on substance abuse. Drug addicts and alcoholics face a variety of special issues separate from the “normal” population you would be working with in a hospital. Most community colleges and some universities now offer programs where you can learn more about these issues. I don’t know where you live, but you may want to start looking for college programs titled “Addictions Counseling” or “Addictions Studies.” Classes you may want to take would be any type of pharmacology, a bloodborne pathogens/infectious disease class, and even alternative treatments to addiction classes. It could also help to take a few classes for addictions counselors like group therapy, individual therapy, or something similar. These will definitely help you in the future in terms of communicating with your clients.

The most important thing I would think an RN working in addiction should have to be educated about is prescription drugs of abuse. Normally when I do an intake on a client coming into treatment, they have been medically prescribed multiple addictive drugs that only contribute to and exacerbate their disease (addiction). Usually these include opiate painkillers, benzodiazepines, and other sedatives and tranquilizers. I had a client once who was on NINE different benzos which she had been on for years, all prescribed by doctors for things like insomnia, anxiety, and even hypothyroidism. This is so egregious and disgusting to me! They were killing her. She obviously had to be medically detoxed for risk of seizures and death from her meds. And needless to say, after being evaluated by our MD, she didn’t NEED any of the pills.

Anyway, I’m rambling. Just excited to see someone wanting to help in the field of addiction treatment. It is rare these days, it seems. But what a satisfying and rewarding job. Good luck to you!!!

Give your answer to this question below!